Posted by simguy on 11/9/2007, 7:14 am.

(Thanks to FightFan for this repost)

Before: A list vs B list as Pene looks to sharpen her claws, get some work in and obtain a big shiny W on US soil - something she hasn't done all that much of recently. "I want to dazzle my American fans," Cruz admits in prefight. "I want to dominate Melissa from the opening bell and never let up on her. I am by far the more talented fighter and I wish to convey this fact: Melissa George cannot compete on a world-class stage." George rarin' to go - hard-working blonde may be thought of as an 'opponent', but she gave Kate Beckinale all she wanted - dropping to 110 to face Cruz gives Mel some added confidence. "I was a little undergunned at bantam - not much, I took all Katie had - but I think I'll be stronger than Penelope at 110 and be able to control her better. Cruz doesn't like close body contact - she wants to dictate her fights from outside, pick you apart with her jab. I'm going to pull her into the swamp, get a tummy on her, maul her and bully her. When I get her sweating and breathing hard, maybe whining to the ref a bit - I'll know I've got her!" Penelope in yellow bikini - halter style top, sturdy bottoms; small black work out gloves. Melissa in black bikini (bra style top); small black work out gloves; shoulder length loose blonde hairs ala 30 Days of Night.

During R1: Pene proving her point - stepping methodical to her left; pumping stick in tart "POP...POP-POP" rhythms. Cruz pushing off the back big toe, weight forward - she's able to poke a straight right through up top as well, treating herself to left side of Melissa's face. George turning, dukes up, parrying shots - she enjoys a couple of productive rushes, wading in with batting lefts and rights to Cruz' ribcage. Pene walking Melissa into head-and-arm clinches, holding her for breaks - pretty business like first for Spaniard.

R2: Cruz steppin' left, pumpin' poke, stampin' right hands from the front (left) foot - she's working at her preferred range, getting off staccato, scoring liberally to Melissa's pretty face. George having a tough time coming forward - her dream of putting a body on Pene dying on the end of Cruz' jab; Pene's deft lateral movement keeping George turning midring. Cruz keeping the punches short, sharp and straight - stitching her way into Melissa's head: George's legs give way late as accumulation of Spanish leather takes a toll on blonde backside.

R3: Cruz really applying polish - scoring 6 consecutive jabs up top as she's wheeling left, then dropping a tasty right hand to Melissa's mouth, and hooking her cheek to put blonde wobbly butt. Pene's eyes bright, lips in a cruel "I'm happy" curl - she's lumping Melissa up and loving it. George vexed, tentative - she's being pre-empted, scored on, touched up - doesn't seem to have any answers to Cruz' effective boxing 101 lecture. Pene just steppin' and pokin', circling and punishing her blonde - Cruz punching Melissa into compliance through 3.

R4: Little more spirit from Mel - she's getting off with roundhouses as she lowers her head and rushes Pene to ropes. Squirming chest to chest as Cruz writhes to tie up: she's refusing battle on the inside, opting for ref's breaks whenever possible. Time of possession to Penelope though - her jab establishing air-supremacy at this point - poor Melissa can't do anything from medium distance on out. Bell: George's left eye swelling badly - blonde staring at canvas on long walk to her corner, looking discouraged and roughed up.

R5: Jailbreak in the first sees Melissa scatter Penelope to ropes and rake several good body-strokes across Spanish ribs. Cruz dukes up, sliding along strands manages to spin out and open up fresh canvas after absorbing George's best moments of the fight thus far. Pene's legs quickly give Cruz back the initiative however: midring and wheeling, she's too cute for Melissa. George grimacing, encroaching, getting henpecked as Penelope bounces either hand off blonde skull - completing the work on that left eye with a steady patter of straight lefts and rights through 5.

R6: Cruz again - too much leg, too quick, too classy - she's dictating terms to Melissa. George spirited enough in pursuit, grimly lifting her mitts to ward off punches; weaving and ducking, looking to step-in and hook Pene's mouth. Cruz having none of it - pelting away those straight, pesky punches in combination, circling and feinting to keep George off. Whenever Melissa does penetrate - she's only able to flap a couple of awkward, brawling blows onto Pene before Cruz ties up. It's Melissa doing the whining to ref - eye all busted up has her cranky, holding getting on her nerves, and she knows she's losing a wide decision at this point.

R7: Another rousing first minute for Melissa gets blonde hopes up - but Pene manages pressure by sliding along the ropes; gets a cute bra-strap tug to pull Mel off balance and presto: Cruz is back at midring, boxing up a storm. Melissa's fury abates - she settles back into role of doomed blonde stalker, facing into Cruz' meanspirited little poke and stamping right hands. Not a lot of body work from Pene - Melissa's legs still seem pretty fresh as a result - but oh, the work getting done on George's B-list face through 7.

R8: ANOTHER good first minute sees Melissa hound Pene to ropes and this time, George is able to snuggle up and get a belly on her tormentress. Cruz grunting with the effort of trying to wrestle her way out from under - George reaching in under Spanish arms, driving with stamping feet to keep Pene under wraps. It's ugly, sloppy stuff - but Melissa doing a good job mauling, holding and hitting: every time ref wants to issue a break, Mel flurries to Penelope's breadbasket as if to say "Look - I'm working!" Suffocating 8th goes to George - Pene scowling, disheveled en route to her stool.

R9: Hoped-for collapse of Pene Cruz resolve doesn't materialize: she's back in control with an unforgiving jab, tireless legs and ramrod right hands to continue busting up Melissa's face. George groggy from face-pasting - but determined - she keeps inching forward, crouching, trying to work her way in past Penelope's glittering offence. George placing a few good right hands late to the pit of Penelope's stomach has Cruz clinching, frowning: too little too late as Melissa drops another round by fighting Pene's fight.

R10: Cruz closes the show: she's got Melissa frazzled, discouraged, and breaking down at this point. George sullen, resentful as Pene's small mitts bounce off puffy blonde face - Melissa reacting late, taking the blows with dim resignation. Pene dips her left shoulder and scrounges for a wonderful left uppercut to Melissa's sternum: punch shakes blonde legs and has her momentarily crippled - where was that shot earlier? Cruz wheeling and dealing - showcasing herself the way she does against Spanish soap opera stars and beach-bunnies - it's all Penelope putting the finishing touches on a brave, but outclassed Melissa to the bell. Comes back UD10 wide - 9 rounds to 1 - Penelope Cruz.

After: Cruz basking in victory's glow - smiling prettily - essentially unmarked: she has her way with a girl who usually proves much more puzzling in the ring. George downcast - seriously exposed tonight by Penelope's footwork - she just never got herself in position to employ the rough-house most choose to deploy against Cruz. Pene shows what she can do when she doesn't get hurt or discouraged in the course of a fight: very clean performance illustrates the rapier-like class possessed by the Spanish beauty.


simguy



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